How I Write

the value of “productive friction.” It’s easier to run on vibes than to practice technique. It’s easier to stop at 80% than to start over. It’s easier to build something people want than to build something people need. It makes sense that a technology-obsessed culture strives to eliminate all friction, but a creative practice isn’t forged from insp... See more

It’s probably fair to call Rick Ruben our leading figurehead in non-rational creativity. There’s much I respect about A Creative Act (2023)—I think psychological attunement is real—I just think it’s a bad starting point for beginners. Ruben is famous for unlocking artists who were a decade or more into their journey. Surrendering your ego makes a l... See more

A consequence of democratizing creativity is that we may have inadvertently sterilized our technical creative knowledge. There will always be 100x more beginners than practicing artists, and so it’s far more profitable to share “how to start” than “how to actually do the thing.”